Last night, after celebrating Choti Diwali, I went to bed, thinking how Diwalied out I was this year! We had a great time with Diwali games, sparklers, stories and the most delicious, traditional food-pooris, chanas, aloo curry and halwa along with tons of mithai of course!The house was a glitter with diyas and yet more diyas- many hand made by the kids and their friends, several bought and stored from the years before. But I suppose there is never too much of a good thing…..

Diwali morning, today, started with a lovely celebration at a friend’s home. A Diwali breakfast if you will for the kids….Everybody chanted the mantra- Asatoma, Sat gamaya…….culminating with singing the Aarti. There truly is something to the energy generated when chanting mantras or prayers in a group. Then we all tucked into more delicious food- aloo paranthas and scrumptious mithais, punctuated with various activities.

Homeward bound, feeling like a whale with all the mithai, boys’ soccer and back to Diwali mode: more beautiful rangoli by the boys outside of the house. We have Ganesh, diyas, flowers and many Happy Diwalis surrounding the entire front of the house!

The evening will roll in soon. We are getting ready for the Saraswati, Lakshmi and Ganesh puja and to light the diyas. We will talk to the kids about the spiritual meaning of this festival as well as lighting up Diwali for lesser fortunate people than us- via Kiva or Asha for education. Thereafter, we will celebrate Diwali with friends! After all, Diwali is renewal of life and hope, and what better way to celebrate it than with your friends and family!